Rescue crews intensify search for missing tunnel workers in Rasuwa, Nepal

Al Jazeera journalist Jessica Washington has been granted exclusive access to the rescue teams operating in Rasuwa district, Nepal, where crews are employing both manual digging and controlled blasting to reach victims trapped after the recent landslide that struck the mountainous region. The operation follows a series of aftershocks that destabilized slopes along the Trishuli River, prompting authorities to mobilize local and international responders to the remote villages most affected.

Washington’s footage shows rescue workers navigating narrow ravines, using hand tools to excavate debris while explosives are carefully placed to clear larger rock formations without endangering survivors. Officials from Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority emphasized the urgency of the effort, noting that the combined techniques aim to expedite recovery while minimizing further geological disturbance. The Al Jazeera report provides a rare on‑the‑ground perspective of the challenges faced by the teams and underscores the ongoing humanitarian response in the region.